The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Last season’s Great British Sewing Bee winner-turned-author Serena Baker talks about sustainability, sewing, and her new book Serena Sews
Q What do you love the most about sewing?
A The feeling you get when you finally get to wear something you’ve spent hours planning and creating. It makes you feel very powerful.
Q What inspires you in creating designs?
A I am inspired a lot by colour and shape, so
I’m really attracted to voluminous clothing. I love browsing on Pinterest for inspiration and often end up incorporating elements of multiple different garments to create the one I want to wear.
Q How did the idea for the book come about?
A It was actually a real surprise when the publishers got in touch with me after the Sewing Bee final aired! I wanted to create one that I would have loved and used when I started out sewing. Plus, I wanted to add my own style in the garments and include refashioned/ upcycled projects to make it suitable for anyone who sews.
Q What’s the most important thing you’d like readers and potential sewers to take away from your new book?
A That sewing should be fun and they shouldn’t stress if things go a little bit wrong along the way. It even happened to me while writing the book and mistakes help us grow.
Q How important is sustainability to you and your work?
A Sustainability is incredibly important to my sewing and has been a big focus of mine for a few years now. Many people making small sustainable changes has a huge impact, and I hope Serena Sews can help people make their sewing that bit more sustainable.
Q What did it feel like to win the Great British Sewing Bee?
A It was a huge mix of emotions – I’ve never felt so many in one day! Mostly happiness, relief and feeling very proud of myself. After I got home from filming I just had to sit down for a while to take it all in.
Q Where is your favourite place to explore in Scotland?
A I love the west coast and have very fond childhood memories with my family travelling to Loch Lomond and Tighnabruaich and the surrounding areas. It’s somewhere I’d love to explore more as an adult.
Q What has been your favourite moment from winning the Great British Sewing Bee?
A I think my favourite moment was when I first saw my book printed. After writing it for so many months and only seeing PDF copies, it was incredible to hold it in my hands and flick through it. I did tear up a little.
Q How did it feel being honoured by Edinburgh City Chambers?
A It was such a privilege, especially to share that moment with family and friends. That made a difference since they weren’t there when I won Sewing Bee (due to Covid restrictions), so I loved sharing this moment with them.
Q Who inspires you?
A So many people! Anyone who tries their best to be themselves and to do what they love doing. The other people I was on Sewing Bee with are some of the best people I’ve met, Esme (Young) is just incredible, all the people working behind the scenes, all the NHS staff I see juggling a million different things at once, and so many others. And of course, Jodie
Comer, I think she’s just amazing.
Q What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had?
A To be myself because that’s good enough. When we started filming Sewing Bee, I was worried that I should try and be funnier or louder or act in a certain way since we were sewing for TV. But I learned that they chose me for me, and in the end that was good enough.
Q Who or what are you most proud of?
A I’m very proud of myself for applying to and going on Sewing Bee in the first place. The whole process really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped to target many of my anxieties. I’ve grown and learned a lot since I first applied to be on the programme.
Q What is your most cherished possession?
A It’s a bit cheesy, but if the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that
I truly value time with friends and family, and that it’s not replaceable. Oh, and maybe also family jewellery since I think I’d get into trouble for losing that!
Serena Sews by Black & White Publishing is out now, £20.